Key-locking device for dash-clocks.



T. Bv. STEPHENSON.y KEY LOCKING DEVICE FOR DASH CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. n. |915.

1,179,469. v Pamnd Apr. 18, y1916.

sTATns PATENT orrron.

THOMAs B. sTErHENso-N, or BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNOR To THE snssIoNsl CLOCK COMPANY, or ronEsTvILLE, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

KEY-LOCKING DEVICE FOR DASH-CLOCKS.

cowl dashboard of an automobile and which is controlled, particularly as to the unlocking, by a key.

Certain features are similar to some of those of the present invention of the device shown and described in Letters Patent No. p

1,158,611 to George W. VVhittemore andJulius II. Varner, and in a way the present application represents an adaptation of the said device to operate by means of a key.

In the accompanying drawing z-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a clock and supporting ring equipped with my' improved locking device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the supporting ring. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, in part broken away, of the front end of the clock. Fig. 6 Vis a rear elevation, on an enlarged scale, of certain parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a similar view,

` ferent position. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line x m of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a sectional view onthe line y z/ of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line e: e of Fig. 6, and ona further enlarged scale. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view and in part broken away of certain parts shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 1Q is a rear elevation on the same scale as Fig. 3 of the rotating element of the lock. Fig. 13 is a side elevation ofthe key. Fig. 111 is a plan view of the blank My improved key locking device for dash clocks is adapted for use with a clock 10, such as shown, having a cylindrical, barrellike form of cross-section for the casing, and a ring 11 cooperating therewith and serving as a support therefor, the said ring 11 being mounted on the dashboard. rIhe supporting ring 11 comprises a fiat annular body portion having holes 12 for screws by which it is secured to the dashboard, a cylindrical flange 13 extending forwardly from the edges of the hole in the body portion, and a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led November 11, 1915.

to produce a y with the parts in a dif.- n

for the catch member.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Serial No. 60,828.

rearwardly turned outer edge formingv a rim 14. The cylindrical flange 13 has as shown at diametrally opposed positions a pair of slots-for a bayonet joint comprising a short longitudinally directedl entrance portion 15 extending rearwardly from the edge and a lateral circumferentially directed portion 16, the same being directed right handedly or clock-wise relatively to the entrance portion 15. In the body portion of the ring 11, and at the lower side thereof is a hole 17 in which is mounted a barrel for housing certain parts of the lock mechanism. The said barrel is cylindrical in form, and extends through the said hole 17, comprising a front portion 18 extending forwardly from the body portion of the portion 19 extending rearwardly therefrom. The front end of the front portion 18 is closedby a plate 20 having a diametral slot '21 and a circular elargement 22 at the center for receiving and operatively positioning the key Q3, in a generally ordinary manner. The said barrel has a cylindrical periphery and the interior portion is of two diameters.

The interior of the front portion 18 of the barrel is a lit for the body 24 of the blade of the key 23, and the interior ofthe rear portion 19 isof slightly larger diameter, the difference in diameter being obtained by reducing the thickness of the material ofthe wall of the rear portion 19 relatively to the thickness 'of the wall of the front portion 18, so that an annular shoulder 27 is formed at the junction of the front portion 18 and rear portion 19, The said shoulder 27 is positioned in the same planel as the rear face of the body portion of the ring 11. The extreme rear end 28 of the rear portion 19 is turned inwardly to form a second annular shoulder 28, and between the same and the front shoulder 27 is operatively housed the rotating member 29, in engagement with the front shoulder 9.7, and there may be at the rear between the same and the rear shouldder 28 a washer 30.-

The rotating member 29 has' a radial varm 31, the end portion of which is turned rearwardly to form a tripping lug 32. The side wall of the rear portion 19 of the barrel is cut away to form a recess 33 for permitting the passage therethrough of the said arm 31y and the` end walls of the said recess serve as Stops in engagement with the said arm 31 to limit the rotative movering 11, and a rear lOl) ment thereof. The rotating member 29 furthermore comprises a circular body por` tion that is a iit for the interior wall 26 of the rear portion 19 of the barrel and which body portion has a central hole 34 for receiving the reduced extremity 36 of the key 23 and a radial slot 35 for a portion of a radius which receives the end radial lug 37 on one corner of the end of the body portion 24 of the said key 23. Normally the radial slot 35 is held at the lowermost position, and in alinement with the vertically positioned slot 21 in the end plate 20 of the barrel. The washer 30 yalso fits the interior of the rear portion 19 of the barrel and the central hole is in alinement with the central hole 34 of the body portion of the moving member 29, suitably to receive the reduced end 36 of the key. is thus free to be rotated by the key 23 when the latter is inserted in a proper manner,

with the lateral lug` 37 lowermost, the eXtent of movement being limited in the manner described by the movement permitted the arm 31 in the recess 33.

The arm 31 is directed generally upwardly when in normal position and is moved from such normal position by turning the key in a counter-clockwise direction. The said arm 31 is held in such normal position by a forwardly directed lug 38 on the free end of a catch member 39. The said catch member 39 comprises a piece of sheet material secured by a rivet 50 to the body portion of the ring 11 and having the body portion eX- tending across the rear portion 19 of the barrel, and in line with the hole in the washer 30 and the hole 34 in the rotating member 29 suitably to be engaged by the tip end of the reduced end portion 36 of the key. The said end portion 36 is of suflicient length to thrust the body portion of the catch member 39 rearwardly suiiiciently to free the lug 38 from engagement with the arm 31 and thus permitting the rotating member 29 to be rotated by the key.

The function of the lug 32 on the rotating member 29 is to engage with the latch 40. In the operation of inserting the clock in the ring the said latch 40 operates similarly to the latch shown and described in the patent referred to and in others is peculiar to the present device, involving the key operating mechanism.l The same comprises a piece of sheet material secured by one end to the body portion of-the ring 11 and having a lug or arm 41 that normally overhangs the interior space inclosed by the ring 1l, suitably to be engaged by a rearwardly directed locking pin 42 on the rear face of the annular head portion 43 of the clock 10. The clock 10 comprises the same elements as the clock shown in the said patent, having a cylindrical body portion 44, the enlarged head 43 at ,the front end, fitting in the ring The rotating member 29 vwhich engages with pins 45 for the bayonet Joints, cooperating with the bayonet slots 15 and 16, and vthe rearwardly directed pin 42 on the head 43, already mentioned.

Inserting the clock in the ring and bring ing the same to the locked position involves an initial movement as the bayonet joint pins 45 travel iirst through the entrance slots 15 and then along the lateral branch slots 16. During suoli initial movement the locking pin 42 engages with the arm 41 and forces the same rearwardly by a thrust movement, involving slightly bending the latch 40, and at the end of the final turning movement the locking pin 42 clears itself of the arm 41 and the same is brought forward to normal position and engaged with the locking pin 42 by the edge portion, thus serving' to lock the clock in the ring. ln the present case the fixed end of the latch 40 is secured by a pivotal connection to the ring 11 by means of a pivotal pin 52, a spring washer 46 of appreciable diameter at the rear face tending to hold the latch 40 flush with the rear face of the ring 11. The outer edge portion of the latch 40 is cut away to permit sufficient rotative movement of the latch 40 to have the arm 41 withdrawn from the interior space inclosed by the ring and to have the same released from engagement with the locking pin 42, which permits the clock to be removed from the ring by operating the bayonet joints.

The latch 40 is held in normal position by means of a latch spring 47, one end of rearwardly turned spring lug` 51, which is integral with the latch 40. The latch 40 furthermore is provided with a nose 48 comprising an eXten- 11, a pair of radial sion of the free end thereof, which is en- 1 gaged with the lug 32 at the free end of the arm 31 of the rotating member 29 by means of the bearing edge 49 at the end. The said bearing edge 49 is inclined relatively to the general longitudinal line of the latch 40 and is of such length and is so positioned that normally the same engages with a .lateral edge of the lug and when the same is turned to the limit permitted in the releasing movement the said bearing edge 49 "1 extends across the outer face of the said lug 32, being essentially tangential to the path of the same. Therefore when the rotating member 29 has been turned to the releasing position the effect of the tendency of the latch spring 47 is neutral. and the locking devices are held in the releasing position positively until turned back to normal position by means of the key. This permits disconnecting the bayonet joints and removing the clock freely and unhampered by the locking mechanisn While the parts are in the releasing position described the catch lug 38 rides on the body portion of the radial arm 31, and when the other moving parts are brought to the normal position by the key the said catch lug 38 is sprung forwardly into position of engagement with the edge oiz the said radial arm 31.

As described my locking device permits the clock to be inserted in the supporting ring and brought to the locking position without the use of a key, and in the unlocking operation the key, serves to set the locking mechanism so that the hold on the key may be released and the removal effected without further attention to the locking device.

l claim as my invention v l. A clock comprising an annular head having a rearwardly directed pin at the rear face thereof, and a supporting ring fitting the periphery of the said head, a bendable latch on the said ring having an inwardly extending arm, spring means engaged with the said latch and tending to hold the said arm in position for engaging with the said pin, and key operated means for moving the said arm in opposition to the said spring means.

2. A clock comprising an annular head having a rearwardly directed pin at the rear face thereof, and a supporting ring itting the periphery of the said head, a bendable latch on the said ring having an inwardly extending arm, spring means' engaged with the said latch and tending to hold the said arm in position for engaging with the said pin, key operated means for moving the said arm in opposition to the said spring means to one side of the position for engaging with the said pin and means for holding the said arm in the said last named position after the key has been released.

8. A supporting ring for a clock comprising a bendable and pivotally supported latch having an arm for engaging with a locking pin on the clock head, spring means tending to hold the said arm in positionfor engaging with the said pin, and key operated means for moving the said arm in opposition to the said spring means.

4. A supporting ring for a clock comprising a bendable and pivotally supported latch having an arm for engaging with a locking pin on the clock head, spring means `tending to hold-the said arm in position for engaging with the said pin, key operated means for moving the said arm in opposition to the said spring means, to a position to one side of such position for engaging with the said pin, and means for holding the said arm in the last named position.

5. A supporting ring for a clock having a bendable latch, the said latch being pivotally supported nose at the other end and a latch arm ad]- acent the said nose, spring means for holding Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the by one end, and having a the said arm in normal position, and key operated mechanism for moving the said latch away from such normal position by engagement with the said nose.

6. A supporting ring for a clock having a bendable latch, the said latch being pivotally supported by one end, and having a nose at the other end and a latch arm adjacent the said nose, spring means'ior holding ther said arm in normal position, key operated mechanism for moving the said latch away from such normal position by engagement with the said nose, and the said mechanism comprising a rotating member having a radial arm for engaging with the said nose.

7. A supporting ring for a clock comprising a bendable and pivotally supported latch and key operated mechanism for moving the same, the said mechanism comprising a rotating member having an arm for engaging with the said latch, and a catch having a lug for engaging with and normally positioning the said arm.

8. A supporting ring for a clock comprising a bendable and pivotally supported latch and key operated mechanism for moving the same, the said mechanism comprising a rotating member having an arm for engaging with the said latch, a catch having a lug for engaging with and normally positioning the said arm, and the said catch being positioned so as to release the said lug from suchengagement with the said arm by a thrust movement of the key. g

9. In combination, a supportingv ring for a clock having a iat annular body portion, a bendable latch pivotally mounted by one end on the said body portion, having an inwardly directed arm for engaging with a locking pin on the said clock and a nose at the free end, a spring tending to position the said latch, a housing for lock mechanism comprising a barrel extending through the said body portion, a rotating member comprising a circular body portion and a radial arm, the said circular body portion fitting and being positioned within the rear portion of the said barrel and having a central hole and a radial slot for receiving the end 4portions of a key, the said radial varm extending through a recess in the side wall of the said rear portion and beingl engaged with the said nose, and a catch of sheet material, secured to the said body portion by one end, extending across the rear of the said rear portion, in line with the said central hole, and having a nose at the free end for engaging with the said radial arm.

fri-ioMasB.r sfrEPi-iENsoN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES 1. BACON, N. L. MANVILLE.

fommissoner of ratents.,

Washington., n. c." 

